Iliad, France's number two operator of triple-play Internet services, would bid for the tranche of French UMTS spectrum reserved for a new entrant if the price was suitable, Chief Executive Maxime Lombardini said.
"We feel we are the right ones to be the fourth operator that France needs," Lombardini told Reuters in a telephone interview.
Iliad has said for two years it wanted to be the fourth licence holder, so "it would not make much sense if we were not a candidate", he said.
"Now we have to wait and see the financial conditions to be able to confirm officially that we will be a candidate, but naturally we are very interested and very engaged in the matter," he added.